The contributions of acceptance of misconceptions about mathematics, mathematical self-concept, and arithmetic skills to mathematics anxiety and to statistics course performance were studied in 92 adult students aged 18 to 57 with a median age of 27, (16 males and 76 females). Results showed that acceptance of misconceptions and mathematical self-concept were significantly related to mathematics anxiety; the combination of misconceptions, mathematical self-concept and arithmetic skills was significantly related to statistics course performance. Older students returning to school after several years' absence were the ones most debilitated by negative attitudes toward mathematics. It was concluded that mathematics anxiety involves a mechanistic, nonconceptual approach to math, a low level of confidence and a tendency to give up easily when answers are not immediately apparent. (Author/MNS)